Shrimad Bhagavad-gita

by Narayana Gosvami | 2013 | 327,105 words

The Bhagavad-gita Verse 8.17, English translation, including the Vaishnava commentaries Sarartha-varsini-tika, Prakashika-vritti and Rasika-ranjana (excerpts). This is verse 17 from the chapter 8 called “Taraka-brahma-yoga (the Yoga of Absolute Deliverance)”

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 8.17:

सहस्र-युग-पर्यन्तम् अहर् यद् ब्रह्मणो विदुः ।
रात्रिं युग-सहस्रान्तां तेऽहो-रात्र-विदो जनाः ॥ १७ ॥

sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmaṇo viduḥ |
rātriṃ yuga-sahasrāntāṃ te'ho-rātra-vido janāḥ
|| 17 ||

sahasra-yuga–a thousand cycles of the four ages (one cycle equals 4,320,000 years); paryantam–comprises; ahaḥ–one day; yat–which; brahmaṇaḥ–of Brahmā; viduḥ–they know; rātrim–his night; yuga-sahasra-antām–lasts a thousand ages; te–those; ahaḥ-rātra-vidaḥ–who know his day and night; janāḥ–persons (conversant with the Vedas).

Those who know the truth about Brahmā’s day and night understand that his day lasts for one thousand cycles of the four yugas, and that his night is also of the same duration.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

One may doubt what is said in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.6.19): “Above the three planetary systems (Bhūr, Bhuvaḥ and Svarga) is Mahar-loka, and above Mahar-loka are the three planets Jana, Tapa and Satya. These three appear to be free from death, contain all the requirements for one’s maintenance, and are free from fear.” Some say that Brahma-loka is free from fear, and that even sannyāsīs desire to dwell there. “Does this mean that those residing on that planet will never fall from there?” Anticipating this question, Śrī Bhagavān states, “No, it is not true. Brahmā, the master of that planet, himself dies, so what to speak of others.” To clarify this further, He speaks this verse beginning with sahasra, which says that those who know the scriptures understand that Brahmā’s one day equals one thousand cycles of the four yugas (totalling 4,320,000,000 years), and his night is of the same duration. After Brahmā’s great life span of one hundred years of these days, he falls and dies, but that Brahmā who is a Vaiṣṇava attains liberation.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says, “According to the calculation of human beings, one day of Brahmā is equal to one thousand cycles of four yugas, and his night is of the same duration. In this way, Brahmā falls, or dies, after living for one hundred such years. However, those Brahmās who are devoted to Śrī Bhagavān achieve mukti. If this is Brahmā’s situation, then how can the fearlessness of sannyāsīs who have attained his planet be eternal? It cannot be. They are also bound to take birth again.”

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